Chapter 33
CHAPTER 33
L evon
I smiled as I tapped my pen against my desk. I cradled my phone in between my ear and my shoulder, unable to contain my excitement.
“I'm more than excited about the offer, sir,” I expressed happily. “I'm happy you chose me for the job.”
“We would like to get you started immediately on training.”
“Oh, that works just fine for me!”
“Steve isn't retiring until the end of the year, but we want you to train with him.”
I nodded. “That would actually be an honor. Steve is an amazing guy.”
“We think so, too! We're sad he's leaving, but we're ecstatic to have you on board in this position, Levon. You've really caught our attention.”
“Thank you so much, sir.”
“Now, I'm going to email you copies of the documents. You can sign them electronically. Once you've gotten that done, it'll be all set up and ready for you to go.”
“Wonderful—I'll check my email right now.”
“Great! Thank you, Levon. We look forward to working with you.”
I took a deep breath. “I look forward to it, too!”
I set my phone down and shrugged the energy off my shoulders. I was on fire. The HR department had called me just as I was getting ready to pick up Clara for the evening.
After I sign these documents, I'll have enough time to get dressed and get going.
I glanced tentatively at the clock.
Plenty of time. Just have to get these signed.
My heart soared as I opened up my email. The arduous account emails from my boss had officially stopped. I noticed the two emails from HR: one outlining my job in full and the other containing the electronic forms to be signed.
I clicked on the forms and opened them up, admiring the way they looked on the screen. I was seconds away from having a domestic job. I knew Clara would be ecstatic. My heart fluttered at the thought of her reaction to my news.
For the first time in a long time, I was going to be close to her. I wouldn't be running around Europe or Canada. I would be in her arms whenever I went to her house. I could visit her with frequency and spend real time with her. As much as it was for her, it was for me, too.
I needed her in my life. I knew that now. After we reunited, I discovered exactly what she meant to me. And I hadn't forgotten the things that had made me fall for her initially. It was her laugh and her smile. It was the way she flipped her hair when she was embarrassed or the cute way she spun around in front of the mirror after getting dressed.
Every inch of my body was ready to be done with signing forms so I could go to her. That was a new sensation. Typically, I was nose-deep in work—so much so that I would forget about the world entirely. But now, the world could wait.
And it could wait because I had Clara.
I scrolled through the remaining documents, being sure to skim through the details. Everything had already been outlined on the phone, but I wanted to be thorough. My excitement couldn't overshadow my thoroughness. As soon as I signed my initials at the bottom, I clicked the submit button and bounced up from my chair.
I raised my arms above my head.
“Yes!”
I darted from my room into the hallway, sprinting into the bathroom. I did a quick shave and applied lotion. I fixed my hair and returned to my room where I plucked out a white dress shirt and a pair of gray slacks. I chose a gray suit jacket to match and a bright tie, the one with purple flowers that Clara used to love tying around my neck.
I had hidden it away in the back of my closet. But I didn't need to hide it anymore. I wanted to wear it just for her to show her how important this news meant for us. I tied it quickly, nearly slipping with the knot. I fixed my pants, smoothed my jacket, and checked myself out in the mirror.
I smiled at my reflection.
“She's going to love this news.”
I slipped on a pair of dress shoes and rapidly tied the laces. I was practically hopping toward the door. It reminded me of when Clara had texted me in the middle of the night to pick her up from a party. I was so eager to be around her that I didn't care if it was past midnight. I didn't mind that we had school the next morning.
I just wanted to see Clara.
And now, that excitement had been renewed. I grabbed my wallet and my keys, flying from the room without putting them in my pockets. I bounced down the stairs and out the front door, brushing past my parents in favor of getting to my car as quickly as possible.
I hopped in the driver's seat and shoved the key into the ignition. I turned the key and smiled at the rear view mirror. As I adjusted the mirror, I caught my reflection again. The smile on my lips was wild. I could feel how infectious it was, how it doubled my joy just to see it.
I was warm and alive with life. I put the car into gear and peeled out of my parent's driveway, carefully making my way toward Clara's house. I smiled the entire way there.
I just couldn't wait to see her.
* * *
I smiled at Clara. She was sitting across from me wearing her favorite purple dress. I admired the curves of her shoulders and the way the halter sat on them, the color accentuating her skin. Her hair fell in ringlets around her arms, appearing as soft as it always had.
“You should share your news first.”
She shook her head while lifting her water. “No, you.”
“I've been waiting all day to hear it. Why don't you tell me?”
“You're the one who wanted to do this whole thing,” she said with a giggle. “You should do the honors. This was your idea.”
“I mean, as long as you insist.”
“The lady insists.”
I raised my eyebrows. “Ah, the lady insists. I can't argue with that.”
“You mean you can't argue with me .”
I chuckled. “Alright, I'll go ahead. Are you sure you're ready?”
“Levon, you're killing me with this!”
“I just think it's cute how impatient you get when I'm getting ready to surprise you.”
“I hated it when you did that.”
I eyed her curiously. “Oh, really? So, no more surprises?”
“No, it's just,” she faded into a giggle as she waved away the question. “It just reminds me of that time you got me a new dress in college.”
“Do you still have that dress?”
“Unfortunately, it got torn at one point.”
“I wonder who did that.”
She rolled her eyes playfully to the ceiling. “Some silly boy I knew who was too eager to wait for the zipper to come off.”
“Wow, he sounds like a jerk. I should beat him up.”
“You should. He's nearby right now. Should I point him out?”
I chuckled. “I bet he wouldn't stand a chance against me. I can wave a bat harder than anybody.”
“Are you sure you want to damage yourself like that?”
“I mean, if I can handle Gabe pushing me, then I can handle myself.”
She broke out into laughter and shook her head, raising a napkin to her lips. “Ridiculous.”
“Yes, I am ridiculous. But you like it.”
“I guess I like it.”
I smiled. “That was a wild night, wasn't it?”
“I wish I still had that dress. But I wouldn't trade it for a night under the stars.”
“I miss those times. I'm hoping we can keep having those times.”
“Yeah?”
I huffed with amusement and glanced down. After a few seconds, I met her gaze and leaned forward. “Well, I'm more than excited to share this news. I've accepted Steve's position at my job. I won't be leaving the US anymore.”
She bit her lower lip. “Oh, Levon, really?”
“Yeah, really.”
“Levon, that's . . . that's just,” she faded as her eyes brimmed with tears. “That's the best news I've heard all day.”
“I'm glad I could give that to you.”
She sniffled. “I just can't tell you how happy that makes me.”
“That's why I wanted to tell you face-to-face. I know what it means. I know that it means we can finally make this,” I took her hand gently in mine, “more than a thing of the past. It can be a thing of the future.”
“I get to see you all the time. Oh, I might get spoiled!”
I laughed. “It will be exciting for us to be together again. We could make so many more memories. It's going to be beautiful, Clara. I have so much in mind for us to do.”
“I have so much in mind, too.”
“Oh, yeah?”
She nodded while she fanned herself. She giggled and dropped her head forward, trying to hide her tears. When she lifted her head, I handed her a napkin and she dabbed her eyes while sniffling.
“It's your turn,” I said. “Lay it on me, sweetheart.”
“Well, this news has great timing because I'd love for you to move in with me.”
I stared at her.
Her eyes widened and she quickly added, “I mean, if it’s just until you find a place that’s okay. I just thought maybe I could see you more that way and all I ever wanted was to see you more.”
I cleared my throat and raised my fist to my lips. I was biting back tears. I chuckled slightly to cover up a small sob and then shook my head, letting a smile take over my mouth.
“Oh, sweetie,” I whispered. “I don't know what to say.”
“You don't have to say anything. I understand if that's too much too soon. It just seemed like the right timing, you know? Considering you're staying in the US, it would be perfect if you came to live with me. I mean, it's just what feels right to me, you know?”
“Darling, I would love nothing more than to live with you.”
She hiccupped. “Yeah?”
I stood up from my chair and dragged it over to her side of the table. When I sat down, I wrapped her in a huge hug. I held her gently while she cried softly, running my fingers through her curls. I cradled her as I had a million times in the past.
And as I would a million times in the future.
“Of course,” I whispered. “It's the perfect timing. I'm in.”
“I can't believe this is happening.”
“Well, believe it because it is. It's totally happening. And I'm totally here for it.”
She lifted her head and planted a kiss on my lips. She silenced me instantly. She took away every word I had planned to say, everything I might have expressed to show her my emotions. But somehow, she just knew what I felt. She knew by touch and touch alone.
I held her chin as I kissed her and held her delicate hands.
When I pulled away, I smiled. “When should I move in?”
“You can move in as soon as you want. I'll make space.”
“I can't wait, Clara. I'm so happy.”
She grinned wide. “Me, too.”
I kissed her once more and then returned to my side of the table. The excitement of the evening had stolen the rest of my appetite. But that didn't matter. What mattered was sitting right in front of me. All that would ever matter would be her.